Taxi Driver Online

M62 hen party crash: Minibus driver loses operator's licence

A minibus driver involved in a fatal crash on the M62 has lost his operator's licence after he was found to have been using uninsured vehicles. James Johnson was arrested and bailed after his minibus, which was carrying a hen party, collided with a lorry on the M62 in West Yorkshire in April. One of his passengers, 18-year-old Bethany Jones, died at the scene.

Mr Johnson, 63, lost his licence after a public inquiry which heard a wheel fell off one vehicle last October. The inquiry heard that the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) started an investigation into Mr Johnson's transport operation after the incident.

VOSA examiner Alan Lodge then found that Mr Johnson, who is from Bradford, had no valid insurance for the vehicles he operated. After a maintenance investigation Mr Lodge reported a "dire state of affairs", including a badly worn tyre, the inquiry heard.

North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Kevin Rooney disqualified Mr Johnson indefinitely from applying for or holding an operator's licence. Mr Rooney said Mr Johnson's operation was "one of the worst I have come across". He said: "Vehicles are so dangerous that wheels have fallen off. There is little documentary evidence of maintenance systems and no evidence to support a contention that relevant documentation has been stolen. "I find that Mr Johnson has been transporting passengers in vehicles with no valid insurance."

Mr Rooney pointed out that at the time of the M62 collision, Mr Johnson was not driving a vehicle of his own or one operated under his own operator's licence. Mr Johnson, who was one of 12 people injured in the collision, did not appear at the public inquiry. However, he submitted a letter which said he no longer wished to retain his operator's licence.

The letter said the crash had left him "in no condition to continue driving and apart from my present incapacity I am approaching the time to retire and do not feel that I will ever be fit enough, or have the wish to continue in business". Mr Johnson and the lorry driver, who is from St Helen's, were both arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

They remain on bail while police inquiries continue.

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IDFIMH

Very kind of him.

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IDFIMH

i think this good example to show law comission what happen when things get cut to the bone

i bet he got work cos he undercut all others an it sound like he ran a bangalore bus

very sorry for those who lost once again

an i bet he crop up again later as unlisensed cab driver probably with another headline of

taxi driver caught with 9 people in his octavia

If the opening post says anything, in relation to the LC, then it's that VOSA are a shower of s***.

If they can't enforce the laws/rules then get someone who can.

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IDFIMH

When I got to that bit I came to the same conclusion.

The report does state that he was under investigation following the wheel incident. The report doesn't mention if his license was suspended following the incident.
At the end of the day he could still be driving a vehicle even if he was banned from driving, just like the thousands of other drivers out there who drive when they shouldn't.

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Grandad,

Surely this was a case of FOLLOW UP visits needing to be made and if no improvement found then shut him down I can't help thinking this was preventable and i doubt there will be any compensation for the victims although i suppose you could argue you get what you pay for

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

It seems to be lack of enforcement when they could have stopped him,it's the same story throughout the country.Lack of regular checks,lack of follow up,lack of will.Every authority I have spoken to either claim lack of resources or legal power to do anything when I question them regarding illegal plying for hire but,I tend to think it's more to do with lack of will !.

Whilst not condoning "the operator" at all, there is a process VOSA have to take when such accidents happen. They do not work overnight!

First step, visit the premises, inspect vehicle, maintenance records, tacho discs, the works. Issue PG9 prohibition for offending vehicle(s).

Report back to HO who then have to find resources...

The PSV Operators licence cannot be "suspended" until this has happened, it's the law.

Eventually the operator ends up on a Public Inquiry where disciplinary action may be taken, such as loss of repute and revocation of licence. Unfortunately it cannot happen overnight according to the law.

I for one would like to see VOSA have a huge clamp-down on most minibus operations but they don't have the staff!

Glass houses, stones.... viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22720

sad news for the family, but how did they allow him to carry on after the first incident, seen so many 20 year old 16 seaters running on restricted licences its a joke, they need to clamp down on it.

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Live life with a smile

Does it take overnight to check insurance?

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IDFIMH

Clamp down on what? It is perfectly legal to run a 20 year old 16 seat vehicle on a restricted license. Vehicles run on these licenses are subject to safety inspections every 8-12 weeks. Our own 16 seat minibus is 12 years old and is inspected every 10 weeks.
However, you can as many systems in place as you like but it wont stop someone breaking the law if they want to. There are minibuses around here that are being operated for hire or reward without any licenses or inspections.

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Grandad,

Again not to condone his actions wrt his own business, it looks like he was only a driver at the time,



perhaps the other owner was as bad as him.

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

That probably means that he borrowed a vehicle from another operator whilst his was off the road.

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Grandad,